im no expert but have been out a few times, i have to say begine by finding someone with first hand knowledge to go with you and show you how to properly identy them in the firlds. some strans of mushrooms can look very similer to there edible cousins , yet kill after eating only one, usually mushrooms that make you ill soon after eating are not deadly, just very discomferting. while the mushrooms with deadly toxins will take 1 to 2 weeks to take there ill effects. and can kill from sudden organ failure. so use caution, and trust no book alone.

stick to well known and easy to identify edibles, which include Morels, chanterelles, shaggy mane and most boletus. it would be a good idea to have them looked over by an expert if you can find one. When I first started out I used three reference books just to be certain of what i had picked. and be carefull for lookalikes. I once picked Jack-o-lanterns and thought they where a big patch of chanterelles.